This was too good not to share.  As a romance reader I’ve felt more then once a passing shame for reading romance books.  I still even discriminate within the romance genre.  “No way will I read a Mills & Boon!”  It’s crazy.  But at the end of the day, it’s an addiction I’m happy to feed.  Maybe one day I’ll be loud and proud about ALL my readings!

This is the fourth book in the Dark Hunter series and focuses on the Dark Hunter, Talon.  Talon is a Celt.  A chieftain, a warrior and a man cursed never to get close to anyone.  All until he gets a glimpse of Sunshine.

While this book focuses on Talon and his struggle to control his emotions when faced with his past, it also provides the first real insight into Acheron.    In some ways it feels like the relationship between Talon and Sunshine is a secondary story, as if the purpose of this story is to provide another avenue to expanded on the history of Dark Hunters.

Talon makes a strong leading man.  He has the right amount of vulnerability coupled with a raw power and a kick ass attitude.  Sunshine provides a strong and willful soulmate.  It’s always nice when an author gets the balance right between the main couple.  Gives them just enough volatile emotion to push against each other, but not enough to make it unbelieveable when they come together.

The world of the Dark Hunters, Greek gods and daimons is intoxicating.  Kenyon puts  just enough of a tweak on reality to make it seamless to believe, and contagious to readers.  However this book seems to stall in places.  Overall it’s another good read, it just doesn’t flow as smoothly as the earlier titles.

Another author I found while attending the Australian Romance Readers Convention was Sherrilyn Kenyon.  I had heard a lot of people talking about her books, but I had never really thought about picking one up.  But as per my deal (for every author I heard speak that I liked I’d uy a book) I had to get one of her books.  So I picked up The Dream Hunter. The blurb on the back of the book sucked me in:

In the ethereal world of dreams, there are champions who fight to protect the dreamer and there are demons who prey on them…

Arik is such a predator. Condemned by the gods to live eternity without emotions, Arik can only feel when he’s in the dreams of others. For thousands of years, he’s drifted through the human unconscious, searching for sensation. Now he’s finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness.

Dr. Megeara Kafieri watched her father ruin himself and his reputation as he searched to prove Atlantis was real. Her deathbed promise to him to salvage his reputation has now brought her to Greece where she intends to prove once and for all that the fabled island is right where her father said it was. But frustration and bad luck dog her every step. Especially the day they find a stranger floating in the sea. His is a face she’s seen many times…. in her dreams.

What she doesn’t know is that Arik holds more than the ancient secrets that can help her find the mythical isle of Atlantis. He has made a pact with the god Hades: In exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with a human soul. Megeara’s soul.

With a secret society out to ruin her expedition, and mysterious accidents that keep threatening her life, Megeara refuses to quit. She knows she’s getting closer to Atlantis and as she does, she stumbles onto the truth of what Arik really is.

For Arik his quest is no longer simple. No human can know of a Dream-Hunter’s existence. His dream of being mortal has quickly turned into his own nightmare and the only way to save himself will be to sacrifice the very thing he wanted to be human for. The only question is, will he?

I’m not a big knowledge bank of Greek Mythology, but this book really hooked me on it.  Ms Kenyon provides enough information woven into the story for those that are completely lost on the mythology can keep up.  The author builds a believable relationship between the lead characters despite them coming from two completely different backgrounds.  She excels at emotional dialogue.  The story completely sucked me in.  The premise of having gods roaming among the mortals adds an intriguing element to the book.  It made a nice change from the paranormal books I had been reading.

I enjoyed The Dark Hunter so much I’ve picked up the first two books in the series; Fantasy Lover and Dragonswan.  I can’t wait to see what other mythology is woven into these stories…

One author I needed no introduction to when I attended the Australian Romance Readers Convention (ARRC) was Mary Janice Davidson, or MJ to those in the know.  What I wasn’t counting on was just how hilarious she would be.  I have to admit to a certain… snobbery… when it comes to humour.  My allegiance lies with the British and the Aussies – at a pinch I’ll extend it to the other members of the Commonwealth.  I’m always a little surprised when I find an American that can do sarcasm and understand it in return.

I came to MJ’s writing through a recommendation made by another author.  (I can’t remember who.)  I picked up a copy of Undead and Unwed.  I really enjoyed it.  A sassy take on a vampire who loves shoes more then sucking blood.  I devoured the book and went back for more.  When I ran out of Undead books to read I picked up Sleeping with the Fishes.  I was hooked.  A grumpy mermaid named Fred – now that’s my kind of heroine.  There’s three in the series, and when I was in Melbourne I took the opportunity to pick up the third book, Fish out of Water.  I read it in one sitting.

It’s an action packed happily ever after.  It’s full of the trademark Davidson sass, and the girl gets her boy in the end.  There’s a nice little plot twist to keep the reader on their toes, which I really enjoyed.  The world of the mermaid is certainly not the Disney one, which is great.  I much prefer my mermaids without the singing.  I actually rate this series better then the vampire one, which might be seen as heresy in some circles.  It’s a real shame to think that the series is finished, but I can hope that mermaidian inspiration strikes again and there more to come later.

I also picked up Undead and Unworthy. I was lucky enough to get MJ to sign my copy.  I haven’t really enjoyed the last few in this series.  It’s felt like they’ve lacked the same kind of punch that the first couple had.  But this one was a pleasant surprise.  There’s still the drama, the cluelessness and the shoe references but it feels like the story is about to move in a stronger direction.  It also makes a difference now I can hear MJ’s voice when I read, and it’s true – she does talk just like she writes.  For those that want Vampire, but don’t want the dark urban fantasy that is currently available, this is a good strong mix of contemporary humour and vampire.  MJ’s definitely an author that you can read all her books without fear of a mixed bag.

I went to the Australian Romance Readers Convention (ARRC) with the intention of finding new and interesting authors to add to my rapidly growing reading list. In the last two years I’ve read over 100 books and a lot of those books have been through the collection of authors. You know, where you find a book, love it and then decide you must read everything that author has ever produced? That’s what I do. Love an author = read everything they’ve had published.

So with the opportunity to meet and hear some authors I’m yet to read speak at ARRC I jumped to it. I made a deal with myself that every author I heard speak that appealed to me I would buy a book of theirs no matter what the genre. Nothing like stepping outside of the comfort zone. One of the authors I had the immense pleasure of hearing talk on a number of panels was Susan Grant.

It’s easy to be intimidated when you read the list of achievements that Susan has; US fighter pilot, Mother, Commercial Airline Pilot, published author – just to name a few! But I think it’s the things people tend to leave off  that Santa like list that make her so marvelous. She’s down-to-earth, funny, elegant, insightful and considerate. (I could go on, but I don’t want this to degenerate into a fan girl moment!)

On the last day of the conference Susan spoke about the inclusion of Science Fiction within the Romance genre. Now at that point I would have said that there was no way on this Earth that I was a science fiction fan. Sure I liked to watch a little Farscape every once in a while – but who wouldn’t?  It was a Jim Hensen Company production and John Crichton was a serious bit of eye-candy. Everyone knows Doctor Who doesn’t count. It’s practically an institution in the Commonwealth! Not to mention the dreamy David Tennant. But would I really want to read science fiction?

Remembering my deal with myself I picked up a copy of Susan’s book Your Planet or Mine? Out of all the Susan Grant books available, I think I was drawn to this one because Susan had stated in the panel that her “hard core” fans think that the book isn’t up to par with her others. Despite this she seemed to really like the book, and what better recommendation is there then the author liking what they’ve developed?

Here’s what the book cover says about the story:

With outrageously false accusations piling up against her famous political family and an ex-fiancé in hot water determined to take her down with him, the last thing Jana Jasper needs is more trouble–especially man trouble. But when she heads to the grocery store for an ice cream fix, not only does the muscled hunk in the frozen foods section ranting about spaceships and invasions look crazy, he looks… familiar.
Cavin of Far Star has never forgotten the girl he met during his weeks spent on that quaint little world, planet Earth, the girl who didn’t believe he was real. And now he’ll risk his future to save her. All she has to do is take him to her leader. Simple enough plan–although Jana isn’t so easily convinced. Hell-bent on charming his way past her defenses, he’s determined to stay one step ahead of the galaxy’s most feared assassin–and may just capture his favorite Earthling’s heart in the process.

I read this book in one sitting (in the car driving from Melbourne to Canberra after the convention). It was brilliant. I couldn’t put it down. (I even thought about taking it in to the rest stop with me, but that would just be wrong, wrong, wrong!) I really enjoyed the interaction between Jana and Cavin. The characters have a wonderful chemistry that has you captivated from the beginning of the book. The story gains its credibility through having them meet as youngsters and the innocence that their ages bring to their connection.  The story deftly borrows from the wonderful magic that is Peter Pan, and yet at the same time weaves its own brand of magic over the reader.  I really enjoyed the way that she grew up referring to him as “Peter”.

The world that is created is strong and believable. The story is fast paced, but credible. There’s some nice background twists in the book; the US President is a woman, the Governor of California seems to be a nod to the current Governor and the references to Terminator charmingly humorous. This book delivers everything you want in a romance – endearing characters, chemistry to steam up the pages and a world that you want to be a part of.

I loved it so much I’ve ordered the next two in the series; My Favourite Earthling and How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days. However, I’m worried that this is the slippery slope into becoming a fully fledge sci-fi geek. I’m taking refuge in the sage advice my Husband gave when I tentatively asked him if I was becoming a sci-fi geek – “Honey, do you know how to speak Klingon?” “Uh, no…” “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about!” Somehow I think he might just be wrong on that one. Susan Grant may just be the author to make me come out of the sci-fi closet!